By Henri Bauholz
Belize is a small, Central American country that shares a small border and an important part of its cultural history with
Mexico, its much larger northern neighbor. Both countries are situated on a short stretch of the
Caribbean Sea. Following are a few facts about these two countries.
The Rio Azul (the Blue River)
The Rio Azul is a short, meandering river that forms the border between Belize and Mexico. Belize has many short, eastward flowing rivers that originate in the western highlands and flow into the Caribbean. North of the Rio Azul on the Yucatan Peninsula, there are no rivers above ground, only natural wells, called cenotes, and a fascinating system of underground waterways that carry freshwater east to the Caribbean.
Languages
Spanish is the official language of Mexico and English is the official language of Belize. However, Spanish is widely spoken and understood in Belize, especially in the west along the border of Guatemala. The Mayan language is spoken within both countries.
Archaeological Sites
On both sides of the Belize-Mexico border, there exist a large number of pre-Columbian sites. The sites are scattered through the dense jungle, where some of the larger places have been excavated into research areas and tourist sites. Some of the more noted sites are Tulum in Mexico and Lamanai near Orange Walk in Belize.
The Caribbean Sea
Both countries have coastline along the western edge of the Caribbean Sea, but here is where the similarities end. The Belizean coastline is filled with Mangrove swamps, while offshore lies a vast coral reef, one of the largest in the world. In Mexico, the Caribbean coastline is generally rocky, even sandy in some places, with only a few islands located offshore.
War of the Castes
In the early 19th century, the Mexican government waged a war against the Mayan population that lived in the Yucatan Peninsula, a place that borders Belize. During and after the war, many of the Mayan participants fled to Belize.
About the Author:
Henri Bauholz is a professional writer covering a variety of topics, including hiking, camping, foreign travel and nature. He has written travel articles for several online publications and his travels have taken him all over the world, from Mexico to Latin America and across the Atlantic to Europe.
